Fibroids

What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are muscular tumors that develop in your uterus. They are usually benign (noncancerous) and often appear during childbearing years. As many as 70% of women develop fibroids at some point in their lives.

What are the symptoms of fibroids?

Not all women with fibroids have symptoms. If you do experience them you might notice:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Bleeding between periods
• Pelvic pain or pain with intercourse
• Infertility
• Menstrual periods that last more than a week
• Frequent urination
• Pelvic pressure
• Backaches or leg pain
• Constipation
• Difficult urination 

Many women with fibroids don’t know they have them. Your doctor might discover fibroids during a pelvic exam or an ultrasound. While they usually aren’t dangerous, fibroids can lead to complications -- such as anemia from heavy bleeding, infertility, or pregnancy complications in rare cases.

What are the risk factors for fibroids?

The cause of fibroids isn’t entirely clear but genetic changes, hormones, and growth factors seem to play a role. Factors that increase your risk of developing fibroids include:

• Being in your 30s and 40s
• A family history of fibroids
• Being African American
• Obesity
• Eating too much red or processed meat

Maintaining a healthy weight and eating lots of green vegetables appears to protect you against developing fibroids.

What is the treatment for fibroids?

If you or your doctor suspects fibroids, she completes a pelvic exam and imaging tests, such as an ultrasound (sonogram) or MRI, to make a diagnosis. Your provider might also complete a hysteroscopy to examine the inside of your uterus or take an endometrial biopsy.

The treatment for fibroids depends on your symptoms, how severe they are, and whether or not you’d like to have children in the future. Your gynecologist might recommend one of the following fibroid treatments:

• Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
• Birth control pills
• Nonhormone medications or supplements
• Watchful waiting
• Uterine fibroid embolization to stop fibroid blood supply
• Endometrial ablation to reduce heavy bleeding
• Robotic, laparoscopic, or abdominal myomectomy (surgical fibroid removal)
• Da Vincii® laparoscopic hysterectomy, or surgical removal of the uterus

Many minimally invasive surgeries at Rockville Gynecology utilize the innovative da Vinci robotic surgical system to reduce pain, scarring, and recovery time associated with surgery.

Don’t let fibroid pain and heavy bleeding reduce your quality of life or lead to health complications. Call Rockville Gynecology’s Uterine Fibroid Treatment Center for an appointment today or use the online scheduler.